Dummy bar handling system

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for feeding a short dummy bar from the path of travel of a casting into the region of the casting mold for introducing the dummy bar through the casting mold into a successive at least partially curved roller apron or strand guide. The apparatus of this development comprises a cartridge or cassette which can be located in a position for introduction of the dummy bar into the path of travel of the casting and a transport mechanism for the dummy bar. The cartridge provided with stop means and co-operating with the transport mechanism is mounted to be pivotal, the pivot axis of the cartridge being arranged at the path of travel of the casting or at the direct neighborhood thereof. In the pivoted position of the cartridge, the stop means exhibits a spacing from the path of travel of the casting which is greater than one half of the thickness of the cast casting.

United States Patent [191 Knell et al.

[ DUMMY BAR HANDLING SYSTEM [75] Inventors: Bernhard Knell, Thalwil; Werner Bruderer, Feldmeilen, both of Switzerland [73] Assignee: Concast AG, Zurich, Switzerland [22] Filed: Aug. 7, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 278,645

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 6, I97] Switzerland 11594/71 [52] US. Cl. 164/274 [51] Int. Cl 822d 11/08 [58] Field of Search 164/282, 283, 274

[56] References Cited I I UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,495,651 '2/1970 Rokop 164/282 X 3,628,595 12/1971 Mitchell 3.661.199 5/1972 Bollig 3.682.233 8/1972 Rokop 3.6921194 9/1972 Wagner..... 3,698.46) 10/1972 Greenherger 164/274 1 June 4, 1974 3,762,462 10/1973 Pietryka 164/274 Primary ExaminerJ. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner.l0hn S. Brown Atmrney, Agent, or Firm-Werner W. Kleeman [5 7] ABSTRACT An apparatus for feeding a short dummy bar from the path of travel of a casting into the region of the casting mold for introducing the dummy bar through the casting mold into a successive at least partially curved roller apron or strand guide. The apparatus of this development comprises a cartridge or cassette which can be located in a position for introduction of the dummy bar into the path of travel of the casting and a transport mechanism for the dummy bar. The cartridge provided with stop means and co-operating with the transport mechanism is mounted to be pivotal, the

, pivot axis of the cartridge being arranged at the path of travel of the casting mat the direct neighborhood thereof. ln the pivoted position of the cartridge the stop means exhibits a spacing from the path of travel of the casting which is greater than one half of the thickness of the cast casting.

8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new and improved apparatus for feeding a short dummy bar out of the path of travel of the casting into the region of the casting mold for introducing the dummy bar through the mold into a successively arranged at least partially curved roller apron, this apparatus comprising a cartridge located in a position enabling introduction of the dummy bar into the path of travel of the casting and a transport mechanism for the dummy bar.

During continuous casting and prior to the start of the casting operation, the casting or strand outlet end of the continuous casting mold must be closed in order to prevent, on the one hand, outflow of metal poured into the hollow compartment of the mold and, on the other hand to render possible the feed of the casting through solidification of the head of the casting while forming a connection with the dummy bar.

It is known inthe cntinuous casting art to separate the dummy bar from the casting or strand following the withdrawing and straightening machine, introducing the thus separated dummy bar into a cartridge located at the path of travel of the casting, and thereafter rais-, ing such cartridge to the height of the casting platform. At the casting platform, the dummy bar is transferred to a device by means of which it can be brought from an outer region of the casting platform into the axis of the path of travel of the casting. This device is provided with deflecting rolls for the purpose of lowering from above flexible dummy bars through the casting mold into the roller apron or strand guide.

A further possibility according to proposals of the prior art resides in raising the dummy bar, following its separation from the casting, by means of a crane from the roller bed or assembly to a height above the casting platform and with the dummy bar in a suspended state above the casting platform transferring such from an outer region of the casting platform to the axis of the path of travel of the casting. By means of a further crane, the dummy bar is then lowered through the casting mold into the roller apron or strand guide.

These proposals possess the drawback that the dummy bar. following its separation and removal out of the casting path of travel, must be initially raised to the height of the casting platform in order to assume at this location a waiting or preparatory position. As a result, and particularly in the case of suspended dummy bars, at the casting platform there is blocked and obstructed the work paths for the various servicing or operating equipment. such as for instance the hall or inside crane, the access and departure paths for tending the tundish and the casting mold. Additionally, the entire travelling path for the apparatus for transporting the dummy bar from an outer region of the casting platform to the region of the casting mold must be maintained unobstructed, that is to say, there is only an extremely slight degree of utilization of the space necessary for other activities, for instance for tending or servicingthe tundish. A further drawback exists owing to the fact that the casting platform under circumstances becomes extremely long, if for high casting speeds the withdrawing and straightening machine extends to a relatively great extent into the region of the roller bed and the separation location for the dummy bar is only arranged after the withdrawing and straightening machine. Additionally, there must be provided a separate device for separating the dummy bar from the hot casting or strand. Moreover, a lifting means is required to bring the dummy bar after its separation out of the region of the path of travel of the casting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Hence, it should be apparent from what has been discussed above, that this particular field of technology is still in need of an improved apparatus for delivering a dummy bar from the path of travel of the casting to the region of the casting mold in a manner not associated with the aforementioned drawbacks and limitations of the state-of-the-art proposals. Thus, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide such type apparatus which effectively and reliably fulfills the existing need in the art.

Another and more specific object of the present invention relates to a new and improved construction of apparatus by means of which the dummy bar can be introduced from above through the casting mold into the roller apron or strand guide and at the same time there can be realized a saving in the casting platform area and lifting means.

Yet a further significant object of the present invention relates to a novel apparatus for transferring a dummy bar from the region of the path of travel of the casting to the casting mold of a continuous casting plant in a highly efficient and reliable manner, requiring a minimum of components for achieving these operations and while reducing the necessary, surface area of the casting platform.-

Now in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, this development contemplates that the cartridge provided with stop means and co-ope rating with the transport mechanism is pivotably mounted, the pivot axis of this cartridge being arranged at the path of travel of the casting or at the direct region thereof, and wherein the stop means in the pivoted position of the cartridge possesses a spacing from the casting path of travel which is greater than one-half of the thickness of the cast or poured casting. In the context of this disclosure, the expression at least at the direct neighborhood of the casting path of travel or like terminology is intended to embrace both of the aforementioned possibilities, namely, where the pivot axis is located at the casting path of travel or at its immediate or direct region.

By virtue of this physical manifestation of apparatus, it is possible to introduce the dummy bar with the aid of the drive rolls into the cartridge'located at the path of travel of the casting. A separate mechanism for uncoupling the dummy bar from the hot casting is not required. In the pivoted position of the cartridge, there is realized between the casting path of travel and the stop means a sufficient free space or area for the throughpassage of the casting or strand. The dummy bar can remain in the cartridge in its pivoted position for such length of time until it is needed for preparing a new pour, wherebyit is unnecessary to either encumber the area of the casting platform due to storage of the dummy bar or other necessary areas of the casting hall or plant with lifting devices.

It is advantageous if the cartridge co-operating in its pivoted position with the transport mechanism can be 1 the cartridge in such a manner that it can be removed,

and in a special constructional manifestation there can be employed a multi-part stop, the components of which can be pivoted out of the internal compartment of the cartridge. In this way it is possible to feed the dummy bar through the cartridge into the casting mold with the aid of the aforementioned conveying or feed drive.

In order to avoid having to additionally encumber the area of the casting platform which is required for other work and which is occupied with equipment, in other words to hold such casting platform area as free as possible, a further aspect of the invention advantageously contemplates arranging a guide track for the transport mechanism essentially beneath the casting platform from the region of the cartridge pivot location to the region of the casting mold.

BRIEF-DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 schematicall illustrates, partially in longitudinal sectional view, a continuous casting installation embodying a casting mold, strand guide or roller apron, withdrawal mechanism, dummy bar cartridge depicted both in its starting position as well as also in its pivoted position, and the transport mechanism for the dummy bar with the associated guide track; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the continuous casting installation depicted in FIG. 1, taken substantially along the line ll thereof and showing the dummy bar cartridge without the dummy bar in its pivoted positlon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now the drawing, it is to be understood that only enough of the continuous casting plant has been illustrated in the drawing to enable those versed in the art to fully understand the underlying concepts of this development. Hence. in FIG. 1 reference character 1 denotes a flexible dummy bar. A stopping and withdrawing head or dummy bar head 2 is articulated with the dummy bar 1, this stopping and withdrawing head 2 providing theconnection to a casting or strand 5, hereinafter merely conveniently referred to as the casting. The dummy bar I can be introduced into a dummy bar cartridge or cassette 3 and when so introduced is located right in front of a stop or stop means 4. At this instant of time, the cartridge 3 is pivoted through the action of a suitable drive, here the cylinder-piston unit 17, out of the path of travel 23 for the casting 5, this path of travel 23 being defined by the schematically illustrated conventional roller apron. At the same time as the cartridge 3 is pivoted in the abovediscussed manner, the stopping and withdrawing head 2 is uncoupled from the casting 5.

It is of course to be understood that the cylinderpiston unit 17 has been merely disclosed as an exemplary type of mechanism for pivoting the cartridge 3 and easily could be replaced by other suitable drives, such as a lift hoist or jack or a rotary drive. In any case, the drive unit 17, whatever its construction, and equipped with any suitable known means for separating the cylinder rod head from the cartridge 3, pivots this cartridge about the pivot axis 22 defined by the pivot journal or shaft means 22a supported in a bearing or support arrangement 21, this pivotal movement of cartridge 3 occurring until it assumes the position shown in phantom lines and designated by reference character 3. At this point it might be mentioned that the reference characters having a prime marking affixed thereto merely denote the same components considered without such prime marking but in the pivoted position thereof as shown in phantomlines in Figure l. The pivot axis 22 is shown arranged at the casting path of travel 23, and in this regard there is to be understood a plane which extends through the central axis of the casting 5 and essentially parallel to the support rolls 24. Of course, as indicated previously, this pivot axis 22 could also be arranged at the direct region of the casting pathof travel, for instance,slightly above such path of travel. In its rocked or pivoted position, the cartridge 3 co-operates with a transport mechanism 15 here in the form of a'carriage which could also be replaced, by way of example, by an electric hoist or equivalent. This transport mechanism 15 is constructed such that with the aid of conventional support and receiving means, it

can receive the cartridge 3 with the therein disposed dummy bar 1 in the pivoted position. It is of course possible for the transport mechanism 15 to merely receive the dummy bar.

To facilitate handling of the dummy bar 1, the cartridge 3 can be provided with a suitable drive 18 for conveying the dummy bar, or as illustrated, the transport mechanism -15 can possess a drive unit 16 by means of which the dummy bar 1 can be conveyed into the cartridge 3. A guide track 20 is operatively associated with the transport mechanism 15, this guide track 20 extending substantially from the pivot location of the cartridge beneath a casting platform 12 to the region of a casting mold 8. This guide track 20 is arranged such that it travels in an ascending fashion and while changing its direction. In order to be able to transfer the transport mechanism 15 with the dummy bar 1 alone or with the dummy bar 1' disposed in the cartridge 3' along the guide track 20 to the region of the casting mold 8, the cartridge 3' is advantageously detachable from the support means 21 for the pivot axis 22, such as for instance by employing conventional hydraulic ejectors, merely schematically indicated by reference character in FIG. 2. As the drive for the transport mechanism 15 there can also be employed the drive unit 16 or there can be arranged a further non-illustrated drive. Moreover, the transport mechanism 15 is equipped with rollers 26 which bear upon tracks 25 and this transport mechanism is also provided with conventional and therefore not particularly illustrated power transmission means, such as for instance a gear rack drive or cable traction drive.

With this design of the equipment as contemplated by the invention, there is realized a considerable decrease in the size of the casting platform in relation to typically known'casting installations. Also, with this physical manifestation of the invention, there are not required any of the known lifting means. lf the guide track 20 is designed so that it changes its direction, then, for instance, the cartridge 3 with the dummy bar 1' is initially conveyed in the direction of the lengthwise axis of the casting, then horizontally out of the region of the casting, thereafter adjacent installation, along the guide track 20 which extends essentially beneath the casting platform 12 to the region of the casting mold 8 and at this location is again horizontally conveyed along the track or rails 29 to the .lengthwise axis of the casting mold. The rails 29 can simultaneously serve as the rails ofa travelling casting ladle or vessel. By virtue of this proposal, and in contrast to known solutions, there are not required any additional surface areas for the casting platform and no space is required at significant regions-of the withdrawing and straightening machine 11 and the strand quide or roller apron 9.

The direction of conveying of the transport mechanism 15 can be changed with the aid ofa number of devices, for instance, by means of rotary disks or switches or in that the rolls 26 are designed to be pivotable, to which end known lift means can be provided, by means of which the rollers 26 can be load-relieved to allow such to be pivoted into a desired direction of travel.

Generally, the transport mechanism 15 is equipped with conventional adjustment means which have not been particularly shown and by means of which the dummy bar 1' can be positionally aligned with respect to the lengthwise axis of the casting mold 8. In order to render possible transfer of the dummy bar I through the casting mold 8 into the next successive roller apron 9 and simultaneously provided cooling zone, the stop means 4 is advantageouslydisplaceably mounted at the cartridge 3 in such a manner that it can be removed, One possibility for realizing such is to design the stop means 4 so as to be formed ofa number of parts 40 and 411 (FIG. 2), wherein such individual stop parts or components can be easily pivoted out of the interior of the cartridge'3. It is however also possible for instanceito have the stop means 4 co-operate with the drive unit 16 such that this stop means when pivoted, engages with the dummy bar 1, retaining the dummy bar in its position at the cartridge 3. Then the dummy bar 1 is subsequently lowered with the aid of the suitablyarranged stop means 4 and the drive unit 16 through the casting mold 8.

By means of the drive unit 16, the dummy bar 1 is lowered to such an extent through the casting mold 8 into the curved roller apron 9 which is provided with driven rollers 10 arranged between guide rollers, until it is engaged and held by the uppermost driven rollers 10. The other drive and guide rollers of such standard roller apron 9 have not been particularly shown in the drawing to preserve clarity in illustration. The transport mechanism together with the cartridge 3 is now again brought to a location above the support arrangement 21 and the cartridge 3 is again connected therewith, so that the equipment is ready for receiving the next dummy bar 1. The cartridge 3' is again pivoted into the casting path of travel to assume the full-line cartridge position 3 as soon as the end of the travelling casting has passed the region of the pivot axis 22.

Now in FIG. 2, the cartridge 3 has been depicted in its pivoted or rocked position 3' in which it co-operates with the transport mechanism 15. In this position, the cartridge stop means 4 is spaced by an amount 35 from the path of travel 23. of the casting 5. This distance 35 is greater than one-half of the thickness of the casting 5. As previously indicated in order to render the cartridge 3 transportable the connection of the cartridge 3 with the support or bearing 21 is detachable, for instance through the agency of the hydraulic ejector devices above-discussed.

With a suitable design of the installation, it is also possible to arrange the pivot location together with the cartridge 3 in front of the withdrawing and straightening machine or unit 11.

Moreover, instead of using a flexible dummy bar 1, it would be possible to employ a shorter, rigid and curved dummy bar, something which likewise requires a suitable design of the casting installation.

The invention is by no means restricted to the exemplary illustrated embodiments, rather there are possible a number of different modifications such as, for instance, arranging the pivot axis 22 at the end of the cartridge 3 confronting the withdrawing and straightening machine, wherein, depending upon the shape of the stopping and withdrawing head 2, the cartridge 3 however should first then be pivoted when the stopping and withdrawing head 2 has moved past the pivot axis 22 in the direction of travel of the casting.

While there is'shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practised within the scope of the following claims.

Accordingly, what is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for feeding a dummy bar from the path of travel of a casting of a continuous casting installation to the region of a continuous casting mold for introducing the dummy bar through the casting mold into a successively arranged at least partially curved roller apron, comprising the combination of: a transport mechanism for receiving and supporting the dummy bar for movement to.the continuous casting mold, a cartridge located at the region of the casting path of travel for receiving the dummy bar, said cartridge having stop means, said cartridge cooperating with said transport mechanism, means for pivotably mounting said cartridge about a pivot axis for pivoting the cartridge and the therein received dummy bar the pivot axis of said cartridge being arranged at least at the direct neighborhood of the casting path of travel, said stop means in the pivoted position of said cartridge possessing a spacing from the casting path of travel which is greater than one-half of the thickness of the cast casting, a casting platform at which there is arranged a con- -tinuous casting mold, guide track means for said transof travel in a plane extending through a central axis of the casting and essentially parallel to the support rolls.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including support rolls for the casting, and wherein the pivot axis of the cartridge is located near the casting path of travel to one side of a plane extending through a central axis of the casting and essentially parallel to the support rolls.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said pivotal mounting means for the cartridge comprises a support and pivot shaft means, said pivot shaft means being detachable from the support.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including drive means provided for said cartridge for conveying the dummy bar.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim cluding drive means provided for said transport mechanism for conveying the dummy bar.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the transport mechanism serves to selectively receive either only the dummy bar in its pivoted position or in 1, further in-' conjunction with the cartridge.

8. An apparatus for feeding a dummy bar from the path of travel of a casting of a continuous casting installation to the region of a continuous casting mold for introducing the dummy bar through the casting mold into a successively arranged at least partially curved roller apron, comprising the combination of: a transport mechanism for physically receiving and'supporting the dummy bar, a cartridge located at the region of the casting path of travel for receiving the dummy bar, said cartridge having stop means, said cartridge cooperating with said transport mechanism, means for pivotably mounting said cartridge about a pivot axis, for pivoting the cartridge and the dummy bar out of the path of travel of the strand while simultaneously disconnecting the dummy bar from the casting, the pivot axis of said cartridge being arranged at least at the direct neighborhood of the casting path of travel, said stop means in the pivoted position of said cartridge possessing a spacing from the casting path of travel which is greater than one-half of the thickness of the cast casting. 

1. An apparatus for feeding a dummy bar from the path of travel of a casting of a continuous casting installation to the region of a continuous casting mold for introducing the dummy bar through the casting mold into a successively arranged at least partially curved roller apron, comprising the combination of: a transport mechanism for receiving and supporting the dummy bar for movement to the continuous casting mold, a cartridge located at the region of the casting path of travel for receiving the dummy bar, said cartridge having stop means, said cartridge cooperating with said transport mechanism, means for pivotably mounting said cartridge about a pivot axis for pivoting the cartridge and the therein received dummy bar the pivot axis of said cartridge being arranged at least at the direct neighborhood of the casting path of travel, said stop means in the pivoted position of said cartridge possessing a spacing from the casting path of travel which is greater than one-half of the thickness of the cast casting, a casting platform at which there is arranged a continuous casting mold, guide track means for said transport mechanism arranged essentially beneath said casting platform and extending from the location of pivotal movement of the cartridge to the region of the continuous casting mold for transport of the transport mechanism and dummy bar carried thereby to the continuous casting mold.
 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including support rolls for the casting, and wherein the pivot axis of the cartridge is located at the casting path of travel in a plane extending through a central axis of the casting and essentially parallel to the support rolls.
 3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including support rolls for the casting, and wherein the pivot axis of the cartridge is located near the casting path of travel to one side of a plane extending through a central axis of the casting and essentially parallel to the support rolls.
 4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said pivotal mounting means for the cartridge comprises a support and pivot shaft means, said pivot shaft means being detachable from the support.
 5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including drive means provided for said cartridge for conveying the dummy bar.
 6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including drive means provided for said transport mechanism for conveying the dummy bar.
 7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the transport mechanism serves to selectively receive either only the dummy bar in its pivoted position or in conjunction with the cartridge.
 8. An apparatus for feeding a dummy bar from the path of travel of a casting of a continuous casting installation to the region of a continuous casting mold for introducing the dummy bar through the casting mold into a successively arranged at least partially curved roller apron, comprising the combination of: a transport mechanism for physically receiving and supporting the dummy bar, a cartridge located at the region of the casting path of travel for receiving the dummy bar, said cartridge having stop means, said cartridge cooperating with said transport mechanism, means for pivotably mounting said cartridge about a pivot axis, for pivoting the cartridge and the dummy bar oUt of the path of travel of the strand while simultaneously disconnecting the dummy bar from the casting, the pivot axis of said cartridge being arranged at least at the direct neighborhood of the casting path of travel, said stop means in the pivoted position of said cartridge possessing a spacing from the casting path of travel which is greater than one-half of the thickness of the cast casting. 